The Latest: All stranded climbers safely down Mount Hood

Authorities say all climbers who had been stranded on Oregon’s tallest mountain are safe.

More than a half-dozen had been climbing near Mount Hood’s peak on Tuesday when they encountered tumbling rocks and falling ice. One climber fell to his death.

The Clackamas County Sheriff’s Office says rescuers assisted three climbers to safety.

The sheriff’s office says rescuers used a sled and a rope system to bring down a woman who said she was unable to move.

Steve Rollins of Portland Mountain Rescue said the woman arrived at the Timberline Lodge just before 8 p.m.

The other climbers made it down on their own.

The lodge sits at about 6,000 feet (1829 meters).

7 p.m.

An eyewitness who saw a climber’s fatal fall on Mount Hood says right before the man disappeared from view “he started cartwheeling.”

Quinn Talley of Welches, Oregon, told The Associated Press that he has climbed the mountain about 20 times and had never seen worse conditions.

Talley says after summiting around 8 a.m. he was descending ahead of the man who died.

“A party of three was coming down. and one of the guys slipped. At first he was just sliding and right before he disappeared, he started cartwheeling,” Talley said.

Talley says he tried to reach the man, but the ice was too dangerous and he didn’t want to fall and create the need for second rescue. He came across one of the man’s climbing partners, who was also trying to reach him, and offered him his medical kit before continuing his descent.

5:05 p.m.

Authorities say rescuers have reached a group of climbers stranded on Mount Hood after one climber died after a fall.

The Clackamas County Sheriff’s Office says rescuers reached the climbers at about 4:40 p.m. Tuesday at 10,500-foot (3,200-meter) elevation and that the climbers had all been assessed.

The sheriff’s office says rescuers were assisting four climbers to safety. An additional three climbers were making their way down the mountain without assistance.

4:15 p.m.

Authorities say a climber who fell up to 1,000 feet (305) meters and was airlifted off Mount Hood has died.

The Clackamas County Sheriff’s Office says the male climber was pronounced dead upon arrival at a Portland, Oregon, hospital Tuesday afternoon.

The sheriff’s office says seven or eight climbers remain stranded on the mountain and that one has injuries that are not believed to be life-threatening.

Rescue teams are still working to reach the climbers.

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2:25 p.m.

An Oregon Army National Guard helicopter has airlifted an injured climber off Mount Hood, but others remain stranded on the state’s highest peak.

The Clackamas County Sheriff’s Office said the male climber is in critical condition.

Four climbers remain stranded on the mountain.

Other climbers are on the mountain, but it’s unknown if they are stuck.

Officials say conditions are treacherous on the mountain with rocks and ice falling.

1:10 p.m.

The Clackamas County Sheriff’s Office says crews are dealing with two separate rescue operations on Oregon’s Mount Hood.

In one, a climber fell several hundred feet from a spot near the summit of Oregon’s tallest mountain. Other climbers are providing aid as rescuers try to reach the scene.

Separately, a party of four climbers is stranded and one of them is injured.

The sheriff’s office says rescuers are working “feverishly” to reach the climbers.

12:10 p.m.

Officials say one person fell Tuesday on Oregon’s Mount Hood and seven people are stranded.

Russell Gubele of Mountain Wave Search and Rescue said Tuesday that he is unable to release information about the climber’s condition. He says it’s unclear how far the climber fell, with reports varying from several hundred feet to 1,000 feet (304 meters).

The climbers were on the Hogsback area near the summit of the 11,240-foot (3.4 kilometers) mountain about 60 miles (97 kilometers) east of Portland.

Mount Hood is Oregon’s tallest peak and attracts more than 10,000 climbers a year. The peak is notorious for loose rocks in warm weather, and the sun has been out this week.

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11:35 a.m.

Authorities say a rescue effort is underway for a climber who fell on Mount Hood.

The Clackamas County Sheriff’s Office said Tuesday that other climbers might be stranded.

No other details were immediately available.

Mount Hood is Oregon’s tallest peak and attracts more than 10,000 climbers a year. The peak is notorious for loose rocks in warm weather, and the sun has been out this week.

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